Neighborhood:
Pearl District With national and international media shining bright lights into every nook and cranny of Portland culture, this saccharine-sweet spot gets the most hype of all. (read more) In what used to be one of Portlands grimiest locales, the Pearl Districts upscale retailers have come a long way from their busted-warehouse beginningsa transformation both lauded and severely scoffed at, depending on whom you ask. For better or worse, theres no apparent end in sight to the high-rise construction. Spendy though it is, all this dense mixed-use development makes for readily walkable retail, food and gallery bounty. Couple that with the alphabetical street names, and its easy to navigate through high-end local shops like Bubble Boutique (1238 NW Glisan St., 219-0098) and Lizard Lounge (1323 NW Irving St., 416-7476) that commingle with giant chains like REI (1405 NW Johnson St., 221-1938) and Diesel (30 NW 12th Ave., 241-1355). For a morning bite, scribble your partys name on a waitlist at the French-American Everett Street Bistro (1140 NW Everett St., 467-4990), or nurse your hangover at kitschy Byways Cafe (1212 NW Glisan St., 221-0011). Should the sun decide to pop up, head over to Jamison Square (810 NW 11th Ave.), where condo-dwelling MILFs and their preppy offspring splash in the fountain and take PB&J breaks at Sip & Kranz (901 NW 10th Ave., 336-1335). For a reality check, pop by the Low Brow Lounge (1036 NW Hoyt St., 226-0200) for some killer tater tots and a brew, or wallow in the blues at Jimmy Maks (221 NW 10th Ave., 295-6542). Elianna Bar-El.
Featured in Restaurant Guide 2009
To most Portlanders, the Daily Cafe is a Pearl District diner landmark—though they have two other locations—with mix-’n’-match $14 prix fixe morning fare (scarily, they call it “price-fix,” just like the petrol companies do) ranging from Korean bibimbap to eggy hazelnut pizza to candied ginger pancakes. The decor is Edward Hopper diner gone cosmo-casual, with windowed garage doors. Dinners are often sparsely attended to the point of creepiness—nobody knows they’re serving it, apparently—and deserves much greater recognition as a mid-priced neighborhood option for heartwarming comfort food like pork chops with peach barbecue sauce or housemade pesto tagliatelle.
MATTHEW KORFHAGE.